Can opener



Feb. I, 1949.

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2/ i Qi j 57 37 lllllllllm e I lmmllmnii INVENTOR.

c. N. SMITH, JR 2,460,717

Patented Feb. 1, 194

CAN OPENER Courtland N. Smith, Jr., Colonia, N. J., assignor to The Regina Corporation, Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application February 16, 1945, Serial No. 578,232,

1 The invention relates to a can opener and more particularly to that type of can opener which utilizes a rotary cutting disc and a rotating feeding device for engaging the flange of the can and by means of which the can is propelled during engagement with the cutting disc. Can openers of this type are adapted to remove the top of the can by severing the top at a point adjacent its .periphery.

More particularly, the invention relates to a novel construction of such can opener in which there is provided a spring guide for effecting the proper positioning of the top flange of the can in relation to the rotary cutting disc and to maintain the can in proper position for severing the top of the can as the can is rotated by the feeding device.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide such spring guide construction which properly positions the can to be opened in relation to the rotary cutting disc and the rotating feeding device when the can is loaded in the can opener, i. e, when the can is applied to the device to effect the operation of opening the can. i

A further object of the invention is to provide such a spring guide which is effective to hold the can in proper location with respect to the cutting disc when the top of the can is punctured to start the severing of such can top.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a spring guide which will exert a proper guiding pressure on the can irrespective of the wall thickness of the can, or the thickness of the seam.

A still further object of the invention. is to provide such spring guide which will constitute an effective shield against bits of paper torn from the can wrapper, or any bits of food from the can as it is punctured or rotated in the course of removing its top, from working back into the can opener parts. i l g A still further object of the'invention is to provide such a spring guide of such shape and configuration that it includes two front contact points spaced at the same distance from the face of the rotating feeding device, which contact points exert sufficient pressure when the can revolves to compensate for the natural tendency of the can to Work forwardly and away from the proper cutting position. The shape and configuration of the spring guide is also such that it is effective to press the can outwardly above the point 'where the rotary cutting disc and rotating feeding device grip the can, thus counteracting the tendency of the can to tilt away from the vertical 6 Claims. (Q1. 309) and thereby insure the cutting of the can top close to the inside wall of the can, as when making the original puncture.

Further and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in'the art from the following description of a specific embodiment of my invention and as illustrated in the accompany- 'ing drawings.

The present invention, in theprovision of the spring guide, provides an extremely simple and efficient substitute for the more complicated,-

structurally as well as operatively, mechanism provided in can openers of this general type as described and illustrated in the patents to Leo Olschewski Nos. 1,999,370 dated April 30, 1935 and 2,278,371 dated April 7, 1942. In such patents.

there is disclosed and illustrated a construction of spring controlled pressure rollers for positioning and maintaining in such position, the can to beopened in relation to the rotary cutting disc and rotating feeding device. The novel spring guide means of the present invention is in all respects as eflicient in operation as the complicated spring controlled pressure rollers of the. aforesaid Olschewskipatents, and in certain respects exhibits certain advantages over the prior art construction, aside from the great saving effected in materials and construction costs.

In the drawings, in which a specific embodiment of my inventionis illustrated, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the can opener constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the same as the can to be opened is applied thereto; Fig. 2'

is a similar plan view with the can to be opened in loaded position, and showing the can opener elements when the can is ready for its rotary movement by the feeding device; Fig. 3 is a front view of thecan opener with the loading lever and the can being opened partly in section; Fig. 4 is a side view showing the spring guide element in position in relation to the rotary cutting disc and rotating feeding device; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the spring guide element by itself; and Fig. 6-

later, to be described. The enlargement has an inner wall portion l I extending upwardly and'an outer wall portion [2 likewise extending upwardly forming a channel with the transverse portion l3 as a bottom. A pin 1'4 passing between the ver- 7 tically extending enlargement portions H and i2. and :over the portion l3 pivotally mounts a housing for limited vertical oscillatory movement relativeto the bracket. V t t p Extending .-.through the housing 15 is ajshaft I6 includingan' enlarged portion'll.

A head IE] on the forward end of the shaft lfi I has its forward face inclined, and against said face is secured a rotary cutter element ZLtIiThefl; cutter element 2l' is mounted to rotate relativg fastener 22. The cutter 21 includes ap'ortiOnJ arranged substantially vertically when the cutter is in use and locatedtagainst the imzler sur-.

to the shaft and is secured"in"plac'ej b3c a-h' face of the upper end flange of the can lthelhead; of which is to be removed. Such cutter also includes a rear cone surfacezd located substantially easel-sing the upper edgefof' thefian ge",ofthe H can being operated upom ltjwill' bel noted-that tpeeatti z P Gates-cathescrew-:2 2- and: is inliri'd at an angle from the horizontalywith' a on littingyportionr-having a-conic'al-"rear suri fac'e' lhe angle-between the rearfsurface of the cutter and the center of its axis bing substan "tially hesam e as the an le-offlnclmation of the r uts or'ri tlie--'-hor i zontal;-thelow er*rear:ele-

oi -"the euttem-when-inusefisf-in a vertical or'1 where-it -is-jiri contact with f-thec'an 'rim. Adjacent thehousing fl 5 15 a pair of cam surfaces 2 55' mi 26 loeated directly; fopposite" one othen th 'formerabeingthe end surface of the support -for' housing -"i 5; and the 'latterthe end it-rt" ="ofa s1'eev'2l-.= A -riut zidthreaded' onto end o the- -'shaft;' -'l6 -sjecures the' sleeve I 15 2 lupon the shaft' for turningkmovements thereon. lesecured -to o'r fdr-med with'thednnerendportion 1 the -sle'eve fil -is a ,1everorha ridle 3ll adapted for 'nlmanual mal i- Pulation to '-ir n-p artan oscillatory-or the-sleeve;

on jits -outer en ater'ally expanded e-provi de al'edge portion- 3 I strap 'az'qa'aseene e d secured to -th'e "ledge '3 l esaskby a piiil 33g and such strap extends acrosspand rearWaifdly i theledge'ESI below the outer, :end 'of the sleeve. nd h as it otlrerend' fwt pass beneath --a'bi'idge-lik e 'piece fifllwhereby' upward V movement of such-endof the strap under the-im' f fluen ce 'of the coil springin the-piece 3 5- islimited. The strap 3 2 has fit's intermediate portion bent :raeero engagement by the cam element-2 9.. 1

Mounted infand -=extendingi through the "hollow extensionorenlargementd3; /is -a"shaftktl. 'On the forward end of the shafttlis vthe propellin or rotating-feeding device forrotatingthe can; the headoff'wh'ichis -to-- be"-remov ed. Suchprbpelling ea or igot-atihgj feeding device comprises a whe' -38=-toothed about itsyperi phery. i

= cutting wheel"38"is formed integral-1y, withthe transverse extension l3 of the mounting bracket, the bearingf lll having an interior tubular cavity 4 l'inwhich, and surrounding the forward end of the shaft 31, ismounted ag coilspring 42. Such coil spring exerts pressure "forwardly"against the rearface of the spring" guide "element "G3 posithe hollowj extension is tioned between such coil spring and the propelling wheel 38. The bearing 40, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, has a horizontal guide extension M which is part of the can opener frame and extends forwardly under the propelling wheel 38 and provides. a ledge for the forwardly bent lower V eligeof the spring guide, element, preventing such spring guide element from revolvin by reason of its snugjrest upon such guide extension. While ,10 ..such spring element 43 is thus prevented from revolving, itis completely free to move inwardly ga'nd outwardly along the axis of the propelling wheelshaft 31. The. tsprin'g -iguide element 43, shown in front ..anmsideJvieWLinTigS. 5 and 6, is of a particular shape and configuration. It is made of thin sheet tmetal -having a-=central aperture 45 by means of ewhich it is mounted upon the shaft 31 rearwardly ofthe propelling wheel 38 and forwardly of the 2 c oil sprin g 42, the lower edge llilofrsuch spring ff'QllldGlBIHElfIt gffla't and turnediforwa dl as "i'shown 'in l i torest'snugly againstithe guide f h upper'edgeof thejspri n guide l rnent 'is arcuately' ollowed as t'l toiclearthe 1 r (Jeni-cal;gsurface ofiithe. cutter. The spring i iiideiel efnent is formew'with' two side contact fl ace 'i r wia slffw i h tum-ed j-'s lightlyba'ckwardly as"shown at;l1ig;;6 and are the same distance from the propelling wheel .face ng th e loading orthe"canjtebejoperated properjposition for puncturing. The e d'i 5 erp rine-positi n by placing .L the upperi edgef thereofzin eontact with the s'u-rfae'esi lw (149 of-the spring guideelement-,'-"and pwa'rdly until the top edge of *tl'-ie"can abuts the lower surface "Ofithe arm .59

extending frorn the can opener .frame.

Ir'i the operation oi -the can openerrtoremove top of af camby severingsuch top-at at point adiiaeent it's per iphfery?the:carrtofbe opened, as li the' pa 5le is plaeed witlrits npper end portion against=the eontact snrfaces 48"-and'"49: of the spring' guide" elementWS}-by--inserting "its flange betweenthestirf aces 2 3 y d -24 iofthexcutter 2i an cl n1o:ving t can pwa rdly until "it {abuts the ---lowr surface fith-arnififl. Holding the can 5i against e cutter and-againsfithe contact. sur- -f'aces 'llll of thfe spring uide element; the leveritfljis swuh 'rwardlmgimparting a;rot'ary movement-te th lejeve *21. j'A;s" the sleeve is lnedmheeanrsurface's 5*and 2 fiorrthe housing fiareoperative tofca the sleevef'r'l-to .move *toward'ther'ightin Figs'r 2 and 3, and 'beingconnected to act against the nut 28 on theshaft'lfi, '55---thje latter; 'iSfmOVBd with'i the sleeve drawing the cut I tow rd and v against theinnerQside Jof the a te-as eh w r- F l Asthesleeveis turnedin the manner. indicated, f' the-ca "H29"- arried witlrit anda1soiturnsiwith w the -"sleeve. As-thes1eeve*turns', the said ;c am" 29 ridesontothe'cam surface or raised'pcrtion 36 of the 21??? and fili h l t ltsl thQhQusin l 5 1 he pin l'kto' ilowfi j' thei'cuttergtoWardpr-ag'ainst d he an 5 lAsfthejsleeye" reaches I ubstantial tilt herebmtheicut .er-is lowered 'the'caniflangeiand islforced h 9i1eh; l1 e.;j n

of the flange of the can and causes the lower edge of the flange to totally engage the teeth. of the wheel 38 of the can. propelling means.- Now the can is clamped in place by the cutter readylfor the operation of cutting out its head or top.

Such cutting out operation is effected by the rotation of the handle39... .This operation of removing the can head by the rotation of the handle 39 is known to those skilled in the art.

The coil spring 42 mounted within the bearin of shaft 3! will yield to the pressure of the wheel 38 when the can is pressed against the wheel and thus the opener is adapted to receive cans having flanges of different thicknesses; It will also automatically adjust itself to variations in the thickness of the walls and the seam of the can during the feeding and cutting operation, so as to insure a uniform and effective gripping and feeding of the flange under all conditions.

The coil spring 42 is prevented from revolving by the spring guide element 43 by presenting a stationary contact surface therefor.

As stated hereinabove, the can opener will operate on cans of diiferent diameter or shape, as the spring guide element is efiective to guide the can with proportionate pressure on the two contact surfaces 48 and 49, regardless of the diameter or shape of the can. The guiding pressure on the can is not affected even by excess wall thickness of the can or the pronounced seam of the conventional can as the spring guide moves with the propelling wheel, the latter compensating for different wall thicknesses of a can wall, and of heavy seams by means of the coil spring positioned rearwardly of the propelling wheel.

It is known to thoseskilled in the art of can openers that there is a natural tendency of the can to work forwardly and away from the proper position of the opener when operated upon by this type of can opener. The novel spring guide element provided in my can opener overcomes this difficulty as the front contact surfaces thereof exert more pressure when the can revolves than when the can is loaded and is being punctured. The pressure exerted by the spring guide element upon the can during the puncturing operation is, however, sufficient to insure that the cutter will puncture the can top close to the inside wall of the can. It is also known to those skilled in the art that the can during the operation of cutting out its top, has a tendency to tilt away from the vertical. My novel spring guide element, by reason of its shape and configuration overcomes this difficulty also, as it presses outwardly above the point where the cutter and propelling wheel grip the can.

Various other advantages not herein specifically recited will be evident to those skilled in the art from the detailed description hereinabove.

I claim:

1. A can opener including a revolvable cutter and a can feeding means comprising a propelling wheel engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to the cutter, said revolvable cutter having a substantially horizontal part en-'-' gaging the top of the can rim while the propelling wheel is rotated and is in frictional engagement with the bottom of the can rim, a guide element for positioning the can in the opener, comprising a substantially flat spring metal body mounted rearwardly of and adjacent the can propelling wheel and beneath the revolvable cutter and having a pair of forwardly extending wing elements posed at each side of the point of cutting of said 'cutte'ri q 1 i 2. A can opener including a frame, a revolvable pcutter, a can feeding means comprising a propelling wheel engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to the cutter, said revolvable cutter having. a substantially horizontal part engaging the top of the can rim while the propelling-wheel is rotated and is in frictional engagement with the bottom of the can rim,

spring'metal: body mounted rearwardly ofthe can propelling wheel and beneath the revolvable cutter and having a pair of forwardly extending wing elements disposed before and behind the point of cutting of said cutter, the lower edge of said spring metal body being seated upon said extension from the can opener body.

3. A can opener including a revolvable cutter adapted to be positioned within the end flange of a can and to cut the end wall of the can adjacent the can flange, can feeding means comprising a propelling wheel engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to the cutter, said revolvable cutter having a substantially horizontal part engaging the top of the can rim while the propelling wheel is rotated and is in frictional engagement with the bottom of the can rim, and means for engaging the flange of the can from the exterior thereof, to cooperate in holding the can flange adjacent said cutter during the cutting operation, said means comprising a flat spring metal body disposed below and in such proximity to the revolvable cutter as to en-- gage the exterior of the can flange while the cutter engages the interior of the can flange, and having two flange contact surfaces, one engaging the flange of the can forwardly of the point of cutting of said cutter and one-engaging the flange of the can rearwardly of said point of cutting.

4. A can opener including a revolvable cutter adapted to be positioned within the end flange of a can and to cut the end wall of the can adjacent the can flange, a can feeding device adapted to rotate the can and engaging the exterior of the can to propel the same in relation to the cutter, said revolvable cutter having a substantially horizontal part engaging the top of the can rim while the propelling wheel is rotated and is in frictional engagement with the bottom of the can rim, and means for engaging the flange of the can from the exteriorthereof, to cooperate in holding the can flange adjacent said cutter during the cutting operation, said means comprising a flat deformable metal body disposed rearwardly and below the can feeding device and in such proximity to the revolvable cutter as to engage the exterior of the can flange while the cutter engages the interior of the can flange, and having two flange contact surfaces straddling the can flange at the point of cutting of said cutter.

5. A can opener including a revolvable cutter adapted to be positioned within the end flange of a can and to cut the end wall of the can adjacent the can flange, a rotating can feeding wheel for engaging the flange of the can to propel the can in relation to the cutter, said revolvable cutter having a substantially horizontal part engaging the top of the can rim while the propelling wheel is rotated and is in frictional engagement with the bottom of the can rim, and means for engaging the flange of the can from the exterior thereof and having a spring action exerting pressure 

